They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that is true then Volition Inc. (and by associationTHQ) are downright besotted by Rockstar Games, such is the similarity between Saints Row 2 and the all conquering behemoth that is Grand Theft Auto 4. I am sure that just as many will be put off by its GTA-alike approach as are enthused, but it would be a great shame if punters were not to look past the similar styling’s and mechanics to see what lies underneath. Because this is no groundhog day, Saints Row 2 isn’t a copy of its idol, it is standing on the shoulders of the giant, dropping its trousers and farting right in its face!

Anyone who played to the end of the original Saint’s Row will know that our hero (in the loosest sense of the word) was critically injured when a private yacht exploded in the games conclusion, but far from this being a limiting factor in the design of its sequel, Volition have used it to their advantage and enabled levels of customisation that GTA could only dream of. The game begins 5 years after the previous tragedy and during that time the lead character, known only as ’Boss’, has been unconscious in a prison hospital. But in a masterstroke of game design, Boss has been through hundreds of hours of skin grafts and cosmetic surgery to cover up the scars of his failed escape from the law. So the first task that you must undertake is to design a new look for the character you will lead throughout the game.

The combinations on offer are initially a little overwhelming and the variety of characters you can create is virtually infinite. Everything from hairstyle, to weight, to weathered wrinkles, to the size and angle of the ear lobs can be changed. In fact it took me almost 40 minutes to create my guy. There is enormous scope for comedic little fatties to be built or muscle bound bruisers in a skirt and bra, but it is worth remembering that you are going to be playing a good 20 or 30 hours with this avatar, so choose wisely.

Another stoke of genius was to offer a variety of voices for your character, so if you want to build a Lock Stock style British thug you can choose an appropriate voice, or if you prefer a Huggy-like pimp or a Boy in the Hood, then those are catered for too. It is this level of personalisation that gets you attached to your character far more than you ever did with GTA’s Nico.